The paper has been developed by Policy Yorkshire’s Active Lifestyle Group . The Group has brought together leaders working across the region who share an ambition to see the region as leading the way in ensuring that everyone is active and that this supports the complex challenges of reducing health inequalities, enables a growing inclusive economy and helps mitigate climate change. 

As the document notes, physical inactivity levels vary significantly across the region from less than 1 in 5 (19.2%) in Craven to 38.6% of people in Hull. The cost of physical inactivity to the economy is significant, with estimates suggesting that it costs the UK £7.4 billion annually (including £0.9 billion to the NHS alone). Conversely, for every £1 spent on community sport and physical activity in England, an economic and social return on investment of almost £4 is generated. Encouraging and supporting active lifestyles therefore provides an important opportunity to support economic growth across the region. 

That’s the call by Yorkshire’s think tank in its new report on the future of devolution.

The report warns that the Government’s commitment to devolution is questionable as plans to establish what levelling up means in practice are being drawn up in Whitehall rather than with town halls and elected Mayors across the country. 

Policy Yorkshire calls on elected Mayors of all parties to develop a shadow white paper outlining what levelling up should mean, how it should be measured and who should be responsible for delivering what. Alongside this the Government should appoint a Labour and a Conservative metro Mayor to lead the development of the levelling up agenda currently being worked on by Neil O’Brien MP who was appointed by the Prime Minister as his Levelling Up Adviser. 

The recommendations follow a webinar held earlier this year by Policy Yorkshire focussed on whether Yorkshire supports devolution. It heard from the former Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Heseltine, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin, the Editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post, Laura Collins and Richard Goodfellow from Addleshaw Goddard who were supporting the event. 

Panellists warned that for devolution and the work of Mayors to be recognised and supported, the public and businesses need to know what difference they will make to their day to day lives. Delivery on manifesto commitments by Mayors are central to their success.

Whilst accepting that many policy issues, such as around transport and infrastructure, are unlikely to yield visible results swiftly, Mayors need to develop ‘quick wins’ early on in their tenure to show that they can achieve tangible benefits and are not simply another unnecessary layer of government. 

The mayoral combined authorities should establish delivery units to ensure 

priorities and manifesto pledges are being driven forward with annual reports outlining progress for scrutiny by the public. Each Mayor should establish a Business Advisory Council to ensure that they and the businesses are working collaboratively to help deliver measures that boost employment and prosperity in their area. 

At a national level, there is a pressing need for the Government to show that it takes devolution in England seriously in its actions and not just words. To support this, it should establish a joint committee with all the metro Mayors, chaired by a senior cabinet minister or even the Prime Minister, to provide a focus for the relationship between them and central government. This would mirror the Joint Ministerial Committee used to co-ordinate relationships between Whitehall and the Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The forthcoming levelling up white paper should also set out a staircase of powers, including over revenue raising and spending, which should gradually be devolved to mayoral authorities. Recognising that not all authorities might be ready to take these on all at the same time, there should be a grading of authorities, so it is clear

what grade has what powers. The staircasing will ensure that all see the route through the grading until the maximum number possible achieve the top grade with the most powers. 

Matthew Howarth, Chair of Policy Yorkshire, said:

The online event being organised by Policy Yorkshire, in association with Addleshaw Goddard, comes shortly after the first election for the West Yorkshire Mayor which saw around two thirds of voters not participating. Prior to the election, one poll found that fewer than half of voters in West Yorkshire were aware of it and 97% were unable to identify any of the candidates. 

The event will consider how enthused the public and businesses across Yorkshire are about devolution, to what extent they consider the work of Mayors will make a difference to their lives and how they can most effectively be held to account in between elections. 

Following the event, a paper will be prepared with recommendations to be distributed to the current Mayors, to those planning for devolution in North and East Yorkshire and to the Government ahead of its forthcoming White Paper on devolution. 

Also speaking will be Laura Collins, Editor of the Yorkshire Evening Post, who will give a flavour of what her readers think whilst Richard Goodfellow of Addleshaw Goddard will give the perspective of the business community. 

The event will take place at 3:30pm on Tuesday 25th May.  

Research has shown that many people are active in Yorkshire and The Humber and before the pandemic levels of activity were increasing. However, there are massive inequalities with those on low incomes and disabled people especially finding it difficult to be active on a regular basis. This is a having a serious impact on people’s mental and physical health. 

With obesity a clear risk factor in contracting COVID-19 and lockdown having caused significant mental health problems, there has never been a more important time to be active. Indications over the past year suggest that people have found it more difficult to be so. There are especially serious concerns at the impact that remote learning and staying at home has had on the ability of children to access opportunities to be active through school and general play.

An expert working group is today launching a call for evidence for those with an interest in the issue asking how to ensure sport and physical activity plays a full part towards healthy, prosperous and connected communities across Yorkshire and The Humber.

With the latest global evidence suggesting that there are eight policy areas that can help support people to be active, including physical education at school, good urban planning to support physical activity and clear public messaging, the group is keen to hear from respondents on the following key points:

• What works well and not so well now in Yorkshire and The Humber in supporting and encouraging physical activity?
• What opportunities are there to re-shape our physical, social and economic environment to better improve levels of physical activity? 
• How might we describe and measure future success in achieving these policies in Yorkshire and The Humber?
• What are the policies that matter most to support people in Yorkshire and The Humber to be as active as they can be?

Policy Yorkshire is seeking written submissions in response to these questions of no longer than 2,000 words by 5pm on Friday 16th April. Submissions can be made online at policyyorkshire.org or can be sent to admin@policyyorkshire.org. 

Policy Yorkshire will develop a series of proposals for the region’s local authorities and Mayors along with central government. 

Commenting, the chair of the expert group, Nigel Harrison, Chief Executive of the Yorkshire Sport Foundation, said: